USB stick encryption

Hamster

Hamster

Hamster

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I've just bought a Corsair Voyager 8GB and want to be able to password protect the files. I normally use truecrypt for this kind of thing but the problem with that is you have to either have the software installed on the pc or in traveller mode, have to have admin rights.

I want to be able to use it on any pc, including workplaces and internet cafes without the need for admin rights and without the need to install any software on the pc. Also i'd prefer not to have to zip or rar files.
I'm also looking for a free solution if one exists.

Anyone have any ideas?
 
Thanks for the suggestion but as i stated, i'd rather not zip or rar files. I'm looking for simple password protection.
 
As i've mentioned more than once, i don't want to use zip/rar passwords. I'm not going to be the sole user of this stick and some users won't be that hot on how archives work so i'll repeat it again:

I do not want to use zip/rar protection. I am looking for a simple password solution!!! :)

MagicBoy said:
Would have been better buying an encrypted stick eg Safestick Maybe there's a U3 solution?
Click to expand...

In hindsight, yes!!
 
NorthstaNder said:
I use Rohos Mini drive which is quite effective. It creates a hidden partition on your USB drive which you then unlock with a password.

Rohos Mini Drive
Click to expand...

Thanks. I have tried this but one of my pcs gives a blue screen when entering the password for the encrypted partition. I've tried using recommended hotfixes but the problem persists.

eXor said:
http://www.freeotfe.org/
Click to expand...

I've been trying to get this to work. I created a new .vol file as per the instructions and copied it to the usb stick. I did 'copy FreeOTFE to USB drive' and selected 'portable mode.' Problem is that when i try and access the drive from a limited guest account a box comes up asking if i want to run in portable mode to which i click yes. After that a box appears telling me i can't do this because i need admin rights!!

Any clues on this one?

Thanks
:)
 
you could use a archive format with password.

Set up the USB with pkzip (or modern day equivilent) and 2 batch files...

First batch file asks for password, and then unzips the contents of the zip file to the usb.

Second zip file asks for password (or reads encoded password from key file , so 4 files in total) and then zips up the files on the USB, and deletes the files it just zipped up.

This would leave the key open to 'undelete' software attacks, but maybe the batch script could fill the drive with a 'empty' file that overwrites the space or something...
 
I don't think there are any decent solutions full stop. The only decent solution is one that is standardised then incorporated within Windows and OS X. That will still takes years to be 'decent' though as many old XP and Vista machines won't be upgraded for ages.
 
JoeMama said:
I've been trying to get this to work. I created a new .vol file as per the instructions and copied it to the usb stick. I did 'copy FreeOTFE to USB drive' and selected 'portable mode.' Problem is that when i try and access the drive from a limited guest account a box comes up asking if i want to run in portable mode to which i click yes. After that a box appears telling me i can't do this because i need admin rights!!
Click to expand...

:confused:

Did you Read The Fine Manual? I didn't do any of that. :p



1. I downloaded the FreeOTFE Explorer .zip file ; none of this 'installer' nonsense.

2. Extracted the contents somewhere.

3. Fired up FreeOTFEExplorer.exe

4. Clicked 'New' to created a file volume. Stored it on my FAT32 formatted, single partition USB stick. e.g. J:\crypto1.vol

5. Clicked 'Mount File' and browsed to J:\crypto1.vol

6. Entered password.

7. Dragged and dropped some files into FreeOTFE Explorer.

8. Dismounted and exited.



All done as a standard user under Vista Ultimate. Nothing was 'installed' and there were no security prompts of any kind.

Just for kicks, I did the same on my old Windows 2000 Professional install. Worked there, too.



p.s. The word 'mount' makes me giggle like a little girl. :o
 
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eXor said:
:confused:

Did you Read The Fine Manual? I didn't do any of that. :p



1. I downloaded the FreeOTFE Explorer .zip file ; none of this 'installer' nonsense.

2. Extracted the contents somewhere.

3. Fired up FreeOTFEExplorer.exe

4. Clicked 'New' to created a file volume. Stored it on my FAT32 formatted, single partition USB stick. e.g. J:\crypto1.vol

5. Clicked 'Mount File' and browsed to J:\crypto1.vol

6. Entered password.

7. Dragged and dropped some files into FreeOTFE Explorer.

8. Dismounted and exited.
Click to expand...

Thanks :) I followed those steps to the letter. Once done, i put the usb stick into a different pc on a limited guest account and all that was visible on the drive is the crpyto1.vol file with no way of accessing it. Did you not have FreeOTFE installed on the pc with which you tested the drive?

Also i can't seem to find this Fine manual that you mention.
 
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eXor said:
There is a difference between FreeOTFE and FreeOTFE Explorer!

I do not have FreeOTFE installed. I have FreeOTFE Explorer unzipped to the USB stick. It travels with the stick. I just run it from the stick and mount crypto1.vol to access the files.


http://www.freeotfe.org/main_explorer_differences.html

http://www.freeotfe.org/docs/Explorer/index.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks eXor! :) Got it working now and i'm able to access the volume on a guest account. I was having another stupid moment (or rather several :D)thinking that FreeOTFE was the same as FreeOTFE Explorer and didn't notice the download link for explorer further down the page.

Now onto the next issue......speed!! Transferring files is painfully slow. I gave up on transferring 100MB worth of pdfs and office documents after 20 minutes. Is there any way of speeding this up at all that you know of?
 
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